1/27/2014

Keeping My Family Healthy and Happy in 2014

I recently read an article that said the average child has 10 colds a year. I have four kids! I do not have time to deal with 40 colds a year! And don't get me started on the flu! Last year we became infamous at our doctor's office because my oldest son and my youngest daughter managed to contract two different strains of the flu at the same time. Did I mention that I also had a new baby at home when it happened? That was fun with a capital F! During the week that the two of them were home sick, it was my number one goal to keep those germs from spreading to the four other people in our house. With the help of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes and a lot of hand sanitizer, I successfully kept the germs at bay and we avoided potential disaster.

Since then, I have made those two tools my number one item in fighting off cold & flu viruses in my home. I have always stored a container of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes under every sink in my home for quick clean up in the bathrooms and kitchen, but this time of year I add another step to my cleaning routine. I walk around the house with the container in my hand and wipe down everything that gets touched, and I mean everything! Try it. You will be shocked at all of the places you find that germs can hide. There are the obvious spots, like door knobs and faucets, but you might forget your computer keyboard or the remote control. I use Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to wipe down the banister, wipe off the keys to our piano, the controllers to our game console, the light switches, you name it. It may sound like a lot, but it only takes a few minutes to tackle the room I am in and that is a lot less time than I would spend taking care of my kids when they are sick.

I obviously can't control the germs everywhere they go, so I also make sure to do anything I can to help them build their immune systems naturally. My kids go to bed pretty early on school nights. I make sure they are eating a variety of foods, and when the weather permits, they are outside playing. The exercise isn't just good for keeping them healthy, it keeps them all happier too!

This year has been a nasty one for colds and flu around here, but with the help of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes we have kept everyone healthy, even the 1-year-old that puts anything and everything in his mouth.

I would love to hear your tips for keeping your kids happy and healthy this time of year, and if you want more ideas for yourself, you can check out ideas on how to prevent the spreading of germs over on the Clorox website.

Now for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, tell me, what are your tricks and tips for a flu-free winter?

Use Clorox Disinfecting Wipes as directed.

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I send my kids to school with the hand packs of germ wipes in their school bag so they can clean their hands before they eat a snack or lunch. I also use Clorox wipes at home and send them into my kid's classrooms. Unless they bring a bad cold home, I rarely get sick.

I try to keep high traffic surfaces like door knobs and light switches wiped down, we wash our hands like maniacs and we get the shots anyway.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com

We wash our hands frequently, sanitize carts before touching and always use paper towels to touch door knobs in public places. I also sanitize my children's hands before eating or touching their faces when out. We also take vitamins to try to maintain health.

Keeping any sick bug away with three little boys at home is definitely a task! I tend to wipe down door knobs more during this season and definitely make sure to change out pillow cases more frequently than I normally do. It really seems to help!amy at mynameissnickerdoodle dot com

I like to keep a pack of these in the car, and use them often. Germs lurk everywhere, especially things like the shopping carts, door handles, public bathrooms etc. I feel not only am I protecting myself, I'm protecting others by not passing on my germs either! Thanks for offering the giveaway. Fingers crossed - deby @ divingmad@hotmail.com

I'm mostly a homebody, yet I was sick back to back last year, with everything from strep throat and sinus infections to the common cold and flu. It's common knowledge to disinfect and wash hands regularly, but most don't mention the doors, carts, and items that we touch while we're out in the stores. No telling who is sick and have touched these things. This is how we're mostly introduced to others' germs. Some of us might even go somewhere to eat after we're done shopping, yet haven't washed our hands beforehand. So, that's why I now bring hand sanitizer with me. I also wash, wash, wash my hands while in public, especially before I eat something. :)

We wash our hands as much as possible these days.https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bedifferentactnormal.com%2F2014%2F01%2Fkeeping-my-family-healthy-and-happy-in.html&text=Be+Different...Act+Normal%3A+Keeping+My+Family+Healthy+and+Happy+in+2014&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bedifferentactnormal.com%2F2014%2F01%2Fkeeping-my-family-healthy-and-happy-in.html%3Fspref%3Dt

Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize. I am diligent about using Clorox spray and wipes to wipe down surfaces. We also keep hand sanitize in backpacks and in the car. Flu shot is always a good idea too :)ashleygatewood1(at)yahoo(dot)com

I make home made Chicken soup with lots of onions and garlic in it which help to boost our immune systems. I wipe down door knobs, the keyboard and anything else that is touched on a daily basis to keep the germ spreading at a minimum. I keep a pan of water simmering on the back of the stove to keep moisture in the air.we all drink lots of liquids and try to get outside as much as possible for some fresh air.

I avoid contact with people who are sick. It might sound a bit extreme but I don't take my little ones out if I don't need to, specially when I know there will be large crowds. I always carry hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to use when needed.neiddyruiz@gmail.com

First, and most important- my whole family gets the flu vaccine. We have 5 asthmatics in my immediate family, and influenza could be a killer.I like to try to avoid crowds as much as possible during flu season. I carry hand sanitizer and wipes in my purse also.

Teaching children good habits from the very beginning helps keep the germs away. Clean hands, wiping down areas that are most likely to be touched by germ laden hands and keeping a healthy diet are our best tools.

I always avoid visiting or coming in contact with friends and family members who have the flu. I think good hygiene and cleaning wipes help prevent the spread of germs. You should wash your hands frequently and use disinfecting wipes to kill germs off surfaces of computer keyboards, bathroom sinks, kitchen counters, door knobs, phones, remote controls, etc. It is good to carry hand sanitizer on you while you are out to help clean off germs. Money, grocery carts, and door knobs contain hundreds of germs so be sure you wash your hands or disinfect them with hand sanitizer or Clorox wipes while you are out and about.

I use Lysol spray!! And a lot of it lol, especially on door handles, inside and out. I know this doesn't completely prevent it, but i believe it does help keep colds and other cooties away. My hubby works at a shipyard with a few hundred ppl a day that he gets in contact with. I've lovingly nicknamed his workplace, the petri dish! Because for years he always brought us home gifts in the form of regular colds, flus, 24 hours bugs and 48 hour bugs! Since using the lysol on all the doors and everything else (including the occasional hubby spray down when he walks through the door) we've managed to make it throughout this entire winter season, without a single bug!

We have a bottle of hand sanitizer in every room of our house and I keep some in my purse as well. I also wipe stuff down with either bleach or antibacterial cleaner all the time. I also use the wipes at the grocery store to wipe down the handle of the cart.

My tips and tricks for a flu free winter are to wash hands every chance you get with hot water and anti-bacterial soap. Avoid touching your face. Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies and exercise to keep your immune system working!

If I even feel a hint of a cold coming on, I start pumping my body and my hubby's body full of zinc. It keeps things either completely at bay or makes the illness much much less horrible.Angie14earth at gmail dot com

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